Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Fencing Along the Railroad and the River

A week ago, Gossips shared the information that Amtrak was proposing to install fencing at several points along the railroad tracks between Rhinecliff and Stuyvesant to keep pedestrians and vehicles out of the railroad right of way. The action will also restrict access to the river. The full proposal submitted by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, a.k.a. Amtrak, to the Department of State Coastal Management Program can now be viewed here.

A total of 8,200 feet of fencing will be installed at eight different locations, identified in the proposal as Stuyvesant, Stockport Creek Conserve, Anchorage Road, German Town Park, Cheviot Road, Tivoli Road, Rhinebeck, and Rhinecliff. The following explanation of the purpose of the fencing is reproduced from the proposal.

A two-week public comment period begins today and continues until 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 29. Click herefor information on submitting comments. The proposed project is F-2018-0060.

8 comments:

What is it about our current culture that we're building walls? Check in with Robert Frost..."something there is that does not love a wall..." Also, if people and vehicles were being hit by trains regularly,we might understand the need for fencing.

Are you suggesting that Amtrak should wait until a horrific accident occurs before taking preventative action? Can you imagine the public outcry if it came to light that Amtrak management had identified a dangerous situation and then did nothing because "it's never happened before?"

You're assuming they have identified a dangerous situation, but there's no evidence of that. Have you ever walked the shoreline at one of the impacted locations? From your first hand observations, what dangers do you see there? Will the proposed fences and gates help?

right of wayˈˌrīd ə(v) ˈwā/nounnoun: right of way; modifier noun: right-of-way

1. the legal right, established by usage or grant, to pass along a specific route through grounds or property belonging to another. a path or thoroughfare subject to a right of way. plural noun: rights of way 2. the legal right of a pedestrian, vehicle, or ship to proceed with precedence over others in a particular situation or place.

It would be funny if it weren't so sad that they want to "promote the wellbeing of the general public" by restricting access to the Hudson shoreline. "Hey, kids, now that we can't fish on the Hudson shoreline, I feel so much better!"The "Purpose of Activity" that Carol quotes only mentions fences, but the worst part of Amtrak's proposal is the installation of gates that keep cars off the Amtrak service roads. Using the Amtrak service road poses no danger, the Amtrak crews are friendly and never suggest that you leave, and the roads let people access scenic, fishing, and recreational locations. Keep them open.

The service road between Broad Street and Black Bridge (the mouth of South Bay) is a public Right of Way which formerly served the once-and-future City property south of the Holcim yard. Amtrak may be able to bar vehicular traffic, but not foot traffic.

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About The Gossips of Rivertown

This blog takes its name from the 1848 novel by Hudson author Alice B. Neal. The original Gossips of Rivertown cast a gimlet eye on Hudson society in the mid-19th century. More than a century and a half later, the new Gossips carries on the spirit of the original, but in a different genre and with a different focus.